Does your Bible clearly proclaim the deity of Jesus Christ?
Hello and Greetings Saints!
My name is Justin, and before I continue with my post, I just wanted to briefly introduce myself for those of you who have never seen me nor met me yet. I am still fairly new to Christian Chat, and so far I really like it here. It's really good getting to meet fellow believers who live in different states, countries and those who live across the world on different continents. It's been a very longtime since I have been in a chat room, so I am still getting used to the fast pace that takes place in Christian Chat lol. But I am glad to be able to come on here and fellowship with fellow saints and believers
Now to begin with my post, I would like to say that I have been studying the Bible Versions Issue for about six months now. But ever since that time in April; when I started reading, researching, and doing comparisons between different bible translations, I discovered one prominent thing that kept taking place in the modern versions: A subtle attack on the deity of Jesus Christ. That's right. In many verses of Scripture where the King James Bible clearly proclaims the deity of our Lord Jesus, the modern and new bible versions out there attack His deity. Below are are just several examples between the Authorized King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and New Living Translation (NLT).
Let's look at our first Scripture:
1 Timothy 3:16
KJV: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
NIV: Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
ESV: Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
NLT: Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.
In this one example, we see here that the KJV clearly states that it was God who was manifested in the flesh while the modern translations obscure the passage by removing and replacing "God" with "He." He appeared in a body? Well, just who appeared in a body? We've all appeared in a body. Come on now.
The next verse,
Ephesians 3:9
KJV: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
NIV: and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
ESV: and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
NLT: I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
Here, the KJV plainly states that Jesus Christ is the Creator.
Micah 5:2
KJV: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
NIV: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
ESV: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
NLT: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.
Again, we see a subtle attack on Jesus' deity. And in Micah 5:2, the modern translations do it by giving Jesus an origin. The KJV correctly states that Jesus is from everlasting.
1 John 3:16
KJV: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
NIV: This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
ESV: By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
NLT: We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
In the KJV, we have "God" being the antecedent and "he" being the pronoun. Hence, the pronoun is referring to the antecedent. So, we know that it was God who laid down His life for us. But in the modern translations, the term "God" is taken out. Therefore, as you can see by the examples above, there is no reference to God in the NIV, NLT, or ESV.
Daniel 3:25
KJV: He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
NIV: He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
ESV: He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
NLT: "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!"
The fourth person in that fiery furnace was the Lord Jesus Christ. But the modern versions take out "Son of God," thereby, removing another reference to Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.
Matthew 20:20
KJV: Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
NIV: Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
ESV: Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.
NLT: Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
The mother of Zebedee's children and her sons worshiped Jesus. You see, anyone can bow down or kneel before someone without worshiping them. Again, the King James Version gives the correct reading and honors Jesus as God, while the
NIV, NLT, and ESV attempt to strip the Lord Jesus of His deity.
Revelation 1:6
KJV: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV: and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
ESV: and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
NLT: He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
In Revelation 1:6, it is the Lord Jesus who makes us kings and priests unto Himself (God) and His Father. This is another strong & clear verse in the KJV that proves that Jesus Christ is God.
1 John 5:7
KJV: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
NIV: For there are three that testify:
ESV: For there are three that testify:
NLT: So we have these three witnesses--
1 John 5:7 is one of the strongest verses in Scripture that supports the trinity and Godhead. Therefore attesting further to Jesus' deity. It's no surprise then that the modern versions would also corrupt and water down this verse, attacking the trinity. While the word "trinity" is not in the Bible, the word "Godhead" is. In the King James Bible, "Godhead" appears three times. Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, and Colossians 2:9.
By now, I am sure you guys can see that these modern bible translations don't honor but attack the deity of Jesus Christ. And as you all can see, it is throughout. Without a shadow of doubt, I truly believe that these multiple versions that we have on the market now are one of the strategies that Satan is using in these last days as an attempt to destroy God's Holy Word and its Authority. Remember that Satan's first attack on the word of God was in the garden of Eden:
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? - Genesis 3:1
"Yea, hath God said," were the very first recorded words of Satan as he threw his first line of attack against God's word. And that seed of doubt which Satan planted in Eve's mind, led her to question God's word. This one question in (Gen. 3:1) led to the fall of mankind.
The Authorized King James Version is the word of God. Indeed, it is the Bible that honors and exalts Jesus Christ the most.
Furthermore, I just wanted to share this post with you all because I knew it was important. I know there are many genuine, born again believers out there who use the modern versions. But I also believe they do so because they do not know any better. I do pray and hope that all of you who took the time to read this post would prayerfully consider returning to the old King James Bible.
For those of you who have any questions or concerns after reading this, please feel free to send me a message, and I will do what I can to answer your question. I also have plenty of good resources that I can direct you to. Well everyone, thank you for your time and consideration. God bless you and Shalom.
Justin
